Medical tablet



001. 4, 932. I KmK 1,881,197

MEDICAL TABLET Filed Dec. 6, 1929 of the stom'ac Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES.

WILLIAM J. KIRK, OI wmsam, WEST VIRGINIA mmrcn. TABLE! Application fled December 6, ma. Serial 10.412.004.

This invention relates to a medical tablet, and more particularly medical tablets of the type having an enteric coating.

Heretofore enteric covered tablets containing an intestinal disinfectant or other medication have been provided, the coating being soluble only in an alkaline medium, whereby the coating is not attacked by the acids of the stomach, and the tablet not dissolved until it comes into contact with the alkaline fluids in the intestines. It has frequently been found, however, that atthe time the tablet is taken, the contents of the stomach may not be of proper acidity, and under certain cir- 35cumstances may be definitely alkaline. Inv this case the enteric coating is prematurely dissolved. Accordin to the present invention, there is provide a tablet having a second coating external to the enteric coating" containing some stomachic which will definitely stimulate the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, preventing premature solution of the enteric coating. I

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing,

effective in the intestine. The medicant 2 is protected by a shield 3 commonly referred to in the art as an enteric coating, and which is H soluble 8nly in an alkaline medium. Applied to the surface of the enteric coating 3 is another coating 4 of a stomachic,- such for instance as ginger, clove, cinnamon, or any similar substance intended to stimulate the I secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

When the tablet is taken, the stomachic 4 is immediately dissolved or difiused throu h the contents of the stomach, stimulating the secretion of hydrochloric acid. The contents are. therefore. made definitelv acid during the time the tablet remains in the stomach. When the tablet passes into the intestine, the external coating has been removed and the. enteric shield 3 may be dissolved in the alkaline fluids of the intestines.

In order to make the tablet more palatable and protect the stomachic, the stomachic may be combined with a sugar coating, or the tablet may be further provided with a sugar coating 5 outside the coating of stomachic. This is disclosed in Figure 2, wherein the tablet is the same as that shown in Fi re 1 with the exception that the additional envelope 5 is provided.

The invention, by the simple provision of the stomachic, secures an enteric-coated tablet which will always provide conditions in the stomach adverse to the dissolution of the enteric coating, and thus revent premature release of the contents of the tablet.

While I have referred to the contents of the tablet as bein of a specific nature, it will be understood t at the invention is not confined to the use of any particular material within the tablet, but is applicable to any tablet wherein it is desirable to employ an enteric coating soluble only under an alkaline medium. I- have also referred to gin er as a s cific stomachic, but it will be un erstood t at any one of a large number of substances intended to stimulate the secretion of h drochloric acid in the stomach may be use I claim:

As an article of manufacture, an enteric- .covered tablet, the enteric coating of which is soluble only in an alkaline medium, and an enclosing la er external to the enteric coating comprising a stomachic ada ted to stimulate the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. J K 

